Swensen&#x27;s

15

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3 months ago

Finally got to try Swensen's after a few years of living in SF and I see what the hype is all about! The flavors were so good, and so fresh! We tried the lemon custard, lychee, and sticky chocolate (my safe flavor haha) but wow I was blown away by the lemon and lychee! They were unbelievably refreshing yet not so sweet. I highly recommend trying those flavors and I will be back to try more!! read more

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Anna C.

69

248

687

3 months ago

Decided to stop by after dinner on a Friday night. First time at swensens after seeing and hearing about it for years. It did not disappoint. Decided to get 2 flavors the cookies and cream and banana flavor. So good the banana was super creamy and soft and the perfect riped banana Line wasn't too bad, probably 3 people in front of me. The servers were young and just having a good ol time. Love to see it! Would come back to try their other flavors. read more

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Jane Y.

349

14

72

3 months ago

Swensen's is the best! I've tried so many flavors at this point that my palette has genuinely changed. Cookies and cream is my favorite, and I love cookies and cream everything, but this one really hits because the chunks are REAL. That's kind of their thing actually, the chunks. Raspberry brownie fudge is loaded with them too. Even the nondairy is amazing, the strawberry has actual strawberry chunks in it. My go-to combo is banana, Rocky Road and strawberry. And watching them do the cone dips and shakes is half the fun. Swiss orange chip nails that orange chocolate flavor, lime is incredible, and the marble caramel fudge -- wow. We come here all the time and always leave with pints. No regrets :) Last but not least, the workers are always hustling and the owners are so sweet! read more

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Jim L.

Hi Jane thank you for the kind words and we will see you next time!

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Kevin C.

239

420

1720

8 days ago

Lines can get crazy here at night, but they move quick because of the staff inside are efficient. Small little corner spot, but packed with many flavors! I tried a bit of everything with my crew, but honestly I just like vanilla . They definitely make a good scoop here and love the vibe of the location and the staff uniform. read more

Swensen's - Vanilla scoop cup - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Andrea R.

50

159

62

2 days ago

I feel like the great reviews are all because of nostalgia TBH. Ice cream is very average, but it's nice that they have so many flavors. Wouldn't go out of my way to go back. read more

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Florence K.

17

446

541

13 days ago

Came for some ice cream and it hit the spot. I wished they had some seating area though to enjoy the sweets.

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Melody C.

16

108

496

5 months ago

so many flavors to pick from and the shop is super old school, aesthetic, and cute! definitely a must visit if you're a fan of Swensen's. I highly recommend the root beer float as they let you choose any flavors, and give you a gigantic scoop of ice cream in the cup. We got oreos and cream root beer float and it was a 10/10 experience. Service is super friendly and they give many samples! read more

Swensen's - Root Beer Float - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swensen's - Menu - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Megan W.

1

36

43

2 months ago

I'm definitely biased but trust me...Swenson's is the local ice cream shop to go to for fresh strawberry ice cream. All their other flavors are just as good. I've been going since I was 4 because my grandma lived up the street and no matter what, I always go for strawberry, coffee, or cookies and cream. You won't find another shop in the city with big chunks of real strawberry like this. You might as well pick up a pint or two while you're at it! read more

Swensen's - Strawberry Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Jackie W.

295

195

258

9 months ago

I've always been intrigued by the line out the door as someone who lives in the area, but Swensen's didn't live up to the hype for me. I thought their ice cream was fine, but all in all quite standard. I tried the caramel marble, which was a bit disappointing. It was a vanilla base with very little caramel. I also tried the raspberry brownie chunk, which had a good raspberry base, but the brownie chunks tasted like tootise rolls - doughy and not fresh. The flavors are more traditional, and perhaps I didn't order well. There's no seating, and lots of people stand around the ice cream shop to enjoy their treats. read more

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Shannon B.

756

633

5036

9 months ago

No visit to the Russian Hill neighborhood near the Lombard Street tourist trap would be complete without a stop at the charming original Swensen's Ice Cream shop, open since 1948 at Hyde & Union. The shop is tiny, just a walk-up counter where you can check out the menu board, taste a few flavors, make & receive your order, pay, and get out - there is no seating and no place to linger inside. You'll likely see a line out the door and around the corner, but don't worry, it moves fast. Staff were wonderful, skilled at handling the crowd and quickly moving people through their transactions while still being friendly. Payment with smart phone was a snap. We visited in August 2025 on Sunday around 4:20p. The line was about 5 parties deep and we had our ice cream in hand by 4:40. I loved seeing the old classic menu flavors like Mint Chip and Rocky Road, as well as some more modern options like Lychee and Turkish Coffee. You can get typical cups and cones as well as sundaes, shakes, and floats, or pints and quarts for later. Almost everyone we saw (and our own group) veered toward the cones. I went with the flavor of the day, Lemon Blueberry Parfait, and it was a delight of tart lemon ice cream with a ribbon of blueberry syrup filled with giant, crunchy, frozen blueberries. My family went with cookies & cream and sticky peanut butter. Smiles all around for our group! read more

Swensen's - Eating our cones in the shade on Hyde St. No line at all by 4:45 on Sunday. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swensen's - Double Waffle Cone, $10, Sticky Peanut Butter - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swensen's - Junior Cone, $5, Lemon Blueberry Parfait, yum! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swensen's - Menu on August 10, 2025 - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swensen's - Single Cone, $5.45, Cookies & Cream, - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Jim L.

Thank you for the review!

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Derek P.

314

52

226

9 months ago

I got to start off by saying I don't like ice cream or sweets but this place is probably one of the best if not the best ice cream places I've been to in my life haha. When it comes to ice cream I've only liked vanilla growing up but slowly I've started liking flavors that weren't sweet or the typical fruit flavors. My girlfriend and I came here because I finally decided to try it out and I did not expect it to be this good. I ended up getting the coffee and the toasted almond on a plain cone. Coffee is a flavor I always go for just cause I drink coffee almost everyday. Nothing crazy about this flavor but super good. The toasted almond though was super good. It had little chunks of almond and the flavor was just right. Service and staff were super friendly and they let you try as many flavors as you like so you get the best ones! It's a little small inside but the way they display the flavors on the wall and just the atmosphere inside is great. 10/10 experience and ice cream. You can even take it togo too! read more

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Jim L.

Derek,…

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kyle e.

4

59

94

3 months ago

Try the banana flavor and any other. I was hesitant but listened to other reviews and the banana flavor was addicting. $8 and some change for a double and it's a huge double. Shareable Definitely worth going once and IMO I'd go again if I'm in area. Walking distance from Lombard St. read more

Swensen's - Inside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swensen's - Banana - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Noah K.

0

62

4

22 days ago

Classic SF ice cream spot. Great variety of flavors to choose from. Only comment is I think it is a tad expensive for what you get. Must visit spot if you are in the Russian Hill area. read more

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Rachel L.

0

3

8

2 months ago

Some history: I grew up in Austin, Texas and there was a Swensen's there. They had my favorite flavor of ice cream of all time; Swiss orange chip, a delicious dark chocolate/orange ice cream with chocolate chips. But it closed about 30 years ago, so I've never been able to get any since then. I was thrilled to discover there was still the flagship location in San Francisco when I went there on vacation with my family, and we had to go for the memories and of course the ice cream. The older man serving us was one of the most sweet and kind person I've ever met. He very graciously took a few pictures with us. We got some sundaes and a quart of swiss orange chip. This was some of the best ice cream I've ever had, and my family heavily agreed. He told us he grew up right around this Swensen's and his dream was to work there. And then his family moved away and a good probably 60 years later, he started working there. Apparently though, he's only been working there for one year although he seemed very experienced and competent. Going back to the ice cream, there were a ton of flavors and I'm assuming all were very good, but the sum of flavors my family got were Swiss orange chip, marble fudge, cookies and cream, Turkish Coffee, and vanilla. The overall ambience was great, we got there right before the big dinner rush came, and there were only about 2 people in front of us. I also got a VERY cute sweatshirt there. About an hour and a half later, there was a line stretching halfway down the block. Strongly recommend! (PS My 11-year-old wrote most of this review, but I agree with every word!) read more

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Jim L.

Thank you Rachel we are so glad you enjoyed the history, the…

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John P.

98

555

1642

1 year ago

Swensen's is a true San Francisco classic! I stopped by on a Sunday around 4pm. It was definitely busy, but the line moved quickly. The flavors here lean more traditional, so don't expect anything too experimental like you might find at some of the trendier spots around the city. There's no seating, so it's more of a grab-and-go kind of place. I got the Caramel Turtle Fudge and Sticky Peanut Butter in a cup, and the scoops were super generous. Both flavors were rich and creamy. The combo of the salty peanut butter, sweet caramel, and crunchy pecans was perfect. read more

Swensen's - Caramel Turtle Fudge and Sticky Peanut Butter - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Roop K.

106

607

708

10 months ago

If you are someone who isn't crazy about American ice cream flavors and sweetness, this place may not hit for you. I say that as someone with a palette for more flavor packed products in ice cream and less sweetness. That aside this is an old school American shop and well known for what it does so it will scratch that itch for you. 4 stars for the craft but 3.5 for my own taste profile read more

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John S.

892

2956

4251

5 months ago

You already know that it's not the best ice cream in the world or the country or the state or the city or even Russian Hill. But I'm sure it's the oldest ice-cream shop on Russian Hill; it's seventy-seven years old! Yes, this is the original Swensen's, the very first outpost of an old and once proud (but now mainly ignored) business. It's a great place to take visitors from out of town, especially after you've ridden the cable car and/or visited the Cable Car Museum. I always think it's farther east than it is, but no, it's right at Union and Hyde. read more

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Yih R.

190

544

1646

9 months ago

We drove by and decided to come! I was not impressed with the menu. I like weird flavors, and I just ordered strawberry and cookies n cream. I was amazed!!!! The strawberry flavor was so good!! It's basic, but so exquisite. I like the real strawberry, big pieces, in the ice cream. It's added a sorbet flavor and texture to it. The cookies n cream one was also delicious. It has big chunks of cookies in it. It was satisfying!!! The place is cute with cute young workers. They are fast and efficient. read more

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Taylor K.

282

324

708

1 year ago

so many flavors it's not even funny. Ended up getting an Oreo milkshake Long line for a reason, it's GOOD. Don't expect it To be like mind blowingly spectacular but it's solid. Love the old school ice cream shop vibes sm. read more

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Maureen Z.

3

108

191

11 months ago

I was so pleased to find out that they have lychee (with real lychee bits)! Their ice cream has the nice sticky texture. There was a bit of a line, but it goes quickly. They also let you sample a few flavors. read more

Swensen's - Outside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swensen's - Thin mint, lychee - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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amy T.

54

401

791

1 year ago

We took an evening walk through the city, about a mile, in search of some good ice cream. We often get ice cream in pac heights and the Marina, but not old school Swensen's. I had my heart set on Mexican chocolate--or at least rocky road--but unfortunately, neither are on their menu. Also, this isn't a typical ice cream parlor--there's no seating or even a bench outside to sit and enjoy your treat. You have to walk away. That said, there were some highlights. I ended up trying the seasonal lemon blueberry parfait and really enjoyed it. We each had a scoop of ice cream coming out to $10. Also, the scoopers were nice. read more

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Jim L.

Hi Amy,…

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Ricky K.

Elite 25

203

503

1992

11 months ago

Swenson's is the city's true historic classic ice cream store that's been around for a long time. I started coming here as a little kid before it became more well-known, and I'm glad it still stands today. It's a solid ice cream shop. Lots of good flavors all over and the line is pretty bustling. Expect it to be busy on the weekends. But the lines move quickly. The flavors aren't anything crazy or super unique, but they cater more to classic flavors for the most part. I ended up getting the blueberry lemon ice cream and it was good! I liked the blueberry bits in the ice cream and the texture was creamy. The lemon tasted a bit too artificial for me since it had that candy lemon flavor to it. But that's just me, I still liked it regardless. I'll make my stops here again. I'll definitely lean more on their traditional flavors that they have next time! read more

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Allison W.

35

346

1127

1 year ago

Came here after dinner on a Friday and there was a decent line. The employees were super nice about sampling flavors, which is great because there are tons of interesting ones that I've never seen in other places. I loved the Chocolate Raspberry Truffle flavor that I got -- such rich, creamy chocolate with a tart raspberry jam swirled in it. Perfect for sitting in the brightly lit shop or taking on a nice walk in the neighborhood. Can't wait to stop by again! read more

Swensen's - Chocolate Raspberry Truffle - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Megan N.

3

4

0

2 months ago

There is nothing keeping me together in this world except for the strawberry / vanilla combo pint. Literally no other ice cream comes close to the experience given to me by Swensen's. I hope whoever is working sees my order and giggles. read more

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Ned I.

1009

179

2817

2 years ago

While on our honeymoon, my wife and I wanted ice cream. We ended up choosing Ghirardelli, but found it disappointing. So much so, we wanted to find a locally renowned, hidden gem before leaving town. That's how we came across Swensen's. Swensen's was franchised many years back. However, this location, the original, remained exclusively owned by Earle Swensen until 1993. At that point, Richard Campana, who began working at Swensen's in 1959 at the age of 15, took over. Richard handed the business over to his daughter and her husband, Diane and Jim, in 2020. This location remains the only Swensen's left in the U.S. The ice cream, sorbet, and even the cones are all made in-house. My wife and I shared cups of cookies and cream ice cream and orange sorbet. Both were to die for. After coming here, I have a newfound respect for ice cream shops that still make their own product. If you're looking for a dessert shop in San Francisco, this should be your choice. read more

Swensen's - Cookies and Cream Ice Cream and Orange Sorbet - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Jen H.

399

2574

214

1 year ago

Ice cream flavors are good here! Old fashion ice cream. Get your ice cream and get out. Small shop--no place for sitting. Got the strawberry and almond flavors. There may be a line out the door, depending what time you arrive. We got here on Saturday at 8pm, and there were 5 people in front of us. By the time we paid, there were at least another 10 people in line. read more

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Sean S.

306

178

374

2 years ago

Swensen's is one of the oldest ice cream shops in San Francisco and it still emanates that old school charm. The bulbous lights and stripped down aesthetic make it feel like something ripped straight off of Main Street in Disneyland -- it's undeniably nostalgic. Yet, in comparison to the vast array of other offerings in the city it feels like a place that could use a little bit of an upgrade to improve the experience. The service is efficient but cold, the flavors are classic but basic, and the options are slim but priced very fair. The landscape of ice cream in San Francisco changed greatly with Humphry Slocombe in 2008 and has continued to evolve and become more competitive with other homegrown companies like Smitten and West Coast heavy weights like Salt & Straw. Even though it's not perfect, I'm really happy that places like Swensen's are still able to exist and remain as classic as the SF cable car, 49ers, and cioppino. Standout flavors are their iconic Sticky Chewy Chocolate, along with the Sticky Peanut Butter and Caramel Marble; but of course that will vary greatly on your personal preferences. This places as it currently stands is a 3 star establishment but for the the sake of San Francisco's history and the perseverance of Swensen's to make it through the pandemic and so many cultural and financial shifts over so many decades, I'm adding a full star. Anyone in the area should absolutely stop by for a scoop for a little sweet taste of the city's past. read more

Swensen's - Can't deny that old school charm - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swensen's - Caramel Marble in a cone - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Rachel B.

184

81

66

1 year ago

Went to Swensen's for the first time and wow the menu is a lot. Decided on getting the toasted almond and it was very tasty and balanced. If you like chocolate, this is the place too. They have a TON of chocolate flavors. I just got the junior cup and they really pack the cup. It was definitely around 2 scoops packed into the cup. Hoping to try the lychee flavor next time! read more

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Saher D.

225

104

219

1 year ago

interesting place to keep an ice cream shop bc it's in between a bunch of residential buildings but nonetheless, i've heard about this sf classic! I sampled a couple flavors and ended up choosing the lemon custard- a great pick! all the ice cream was such a good texture and all bold flavors! definitely in my top 5 ice cream places! read more

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Christiane F.

16

180

402

2 years ago

Can't believe I waited so long to try this place. It's one of the best ice creams I've had in the city: I tried their Turkish coffee and mocha chip flavors and almost went back from seconds It's a blessing and a curse that I live so close to it, definitely give it a try if you're close by! read more

Swensen's - Turkish Coffee and mocha chip - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Kamy T.

16

234

1033

1 year ago

We stopped by here after having dinner nearby. It's definitely your typical old-school ice cream parlor shop with minimal seating inside and your typical flavors. Service wasn't incredibly welcoming, but it could have just been the time of day. No line around 9pm on a Thursday. Tried the black raspberry marble which was good. Nothing crazy but done well, a bit sweeter than I would prefer. This is the more sticky, liquidity type of ice cream if that's what you like. Was nice to try. read more

Swensen's - Black raspberry marble (single) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Helen L.

185

2084

4603

1 year ago

This is my favorite ice cream place in San Francisco. Funny thing, how to get to it? Good thing for the bus #45 Union and cable car, both stop at the corner. It's awful to walk up from Van Ness. Parking is next to nil. My favorite flavor is the sticky chewy chocolate. So chocolaty, no limit on the flavor. There are so many flavors but somehow this is my go-to. The staff are wonderful with their welciming smile. read more

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Dean N.

60

208

420

9 months ago

A San Francisco Institution since 1948, they were across the US, and now have a franchise in Asia, but here is the only place to experience their recipe for turning local cream into a cold, creamy, tongue numbing joy. delicious is just a word. try their shakes also. My Mother's favorite. Try their fresh Banana. Service is fast and they go out of their way to make sure it's correct. I ordered a Hot Fudge Shake.. which is difficult to make.. and they did a wonderful job. I ate so fast there were no pictures. It's small.. so you may end up standing on one of the most beautiful corners in San Francisco .. looking down on Russian Hill, North Beach and see a Cable Car go by. read more

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Jim L.

Thanks for your review Dean we appreciate it!

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Vicky N.

637

242

407

2 years ago

May swensen's live forever and ever, amen. I love the regular flavors and the seasonal ones too! Lychee is insane, banana is the perfect banana, toasted almond is yum, mocha chip is great (love it with banana). Spumoni is good. It reminds me of something I had when I was a kid, but idk what. I wish I could get tiny or half scoops instead of full size scoops bc I cannot eat so much ice cream at once lol but they have so many good flavors read more

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Emily L.

140

34

22

5 months ago

5 stars for Swensen's. Honorable mention to the peppermint ice cream that keeps me coming back again and again. Always in a waffle cone, usually after dinner at Seven Hills down the block, and enjoyed as I stroll to Ina Coolbirth park to chill on a bench and soak it all in. Bring cash. Consistently divine! read more

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Brenda H.

13

62

101

1 year ago

I have a huge sweet tooth so I came to this spot for a quick sweet treat after dinner, and I was not disappointed! We got to sample up to 6 flavors - our server was super patient with us as we decided from their plethora of options, and all the flavors we tried were super delicious. I love that they had such a large variety of flavors to choose from, ranging from fruity to chocolate-ly to everything in between. I also love the texture of the ice cream - my personal favorite - creamy and super thick, with additional crunch from the toppings. They're also open until 10 so perfect dessert after a meal in the area! read more

Swensen's - Swiss orange chocolate - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Francisco, California

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El B.

254

652

800

11 months ago

It's NOT cheap, but it's likely the cheapest thing in this neighborhood. I love their hot fudge sundaes. :) read more

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Kelly S.

377

774

1395

2 years ago

I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream! Yum! I'm so new to the city that I've never heard of Swensen's until now.. the store is right in the corner, restaurants and other goodies around as well (so grab ice cream after dinner ;) Service was super quick and staff were super sweet. I tried a couple of flavors but ended up with none of them lol! * I got: - Rum Raisin: so good! You definitely get a bite of both rum and raisin in every bite Swenson definitely lives up to the hype! Plus this is such a cute 90s ice cream parlor. Do it for the vibes read more

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Cami R.

15

72

153

1 year ago

Always super quick service at Swenson's! Also my go to ice cream spot in Russian Hill since it's a quick walk for me! Conveniently located on Union St - Swenson's has amazing ice cream! Seriously every flavor I've tried here is so good. My favorite is their rocky road! Never have had an issue here ordering except when it gets super busy in warmer months - but even then service is super speedy! read more

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Abby O.

1.3 mi•Western Addition, Fillmore

22

214

210

2 years ago

A old-school ice cream parlor that keeps it simple and delicious. Great flavors (including non-dairy options), fast service, and reasonable prices make this spot a neighborhood gem. read more

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More info about Swensen's

1999 Hyde St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Russian Hill
Directions
(415) 775-6818
Call Now
Visit Website
http://swensensicecream.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Swensen's open?

Swensen's opens at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Swensen's close?

Swensen's is closed on Monday.Swensen's closes at 10:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon ClosedTue-Sun 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Swensen's take credit cards?

Yes, Swensen's takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Swensen's have catering options?

Yes, Swensen's does have catering options.

Does Swensen's have a drive thru?

No, Swensen's does not have a drive thru.

Indoor Amenities

Does Swensen's allow dogs?

No, Swensen's does not allow dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Swensen's have bike parking?

No, Swensen's does not have bike parking.

Does Swensen's have parking?

Yes, Swensen's has parking options. Street Parking

Other Amenities

Is Swensen's wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Swensen's is wheelchair accessible.

Does Swensen's have free WiFi?

No, Swensen's does not have free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Established in 1948, Swensen's is your local ice cream shop in San Franciso, Calfornia. We are the original location of the Swensen's franchise. At our shop, everything is made fresh and in-house, with all the flavors you can think of: from the original favorites like Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry to popular flavors like Raspberry, Coffee, and Mint. Stop by today to enjoy a cone or cup!

More Info

Health Score

Swensen's Reviews in Other Languages

German
2 Reviews

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Matcha Cafe Maiko

4.5(1.6k reviews)

Ambiance: Matcha Cafe Maiko is one of a few tea shops…read morespecializing in Matcha flavored drinks and desserts in Japantown. There is no seating located in this particular cafe but plenty of outdoor seating directly outside. The general area can be pretty crowded due to the other store fronts within the mall so if you want a more relaxed matcha tea shop to do work or relax it would be better to order and then leave. Service: They have both a kiosk and a barista taking orders. Staff were friendly and working efficiently and quickly to fill the orders as they were being placed. Wait time: Generally depends on when you go since Japantown mall is a heavily toured area by locals and visitors to the Bay Area but I'd say roughly 10-15 minutes max from standing in line to receiving your drink. Food: The matcha ice cream has a deep matcha flavor with a nice concentration of powder which can be tasted in the soft serve. They also top the soft serve with a light dusting of matcha powder to further enhance the flavors. The cone was soft and light with a gentle sweetness that pairs really well against with the earthiness of the matcha.

Matcha Cafe Maiko is a pretty popular matcha dessert spot in Japantown, and almost every time I…read morewalked by, there were people going in and out, so I finally decided to give it a try. Overall, I thought it was good. Not something that completely amazed me, but definitely worth trying if you already enjoy matcha desserts. The biggest strength here is definitely the matcha flavor itself. A lot of matcha desserts nowadays are overly sweet to the point where you can barely taste the tea anymore, but here you can still clearly taste the earthy matcha flavor with a slight bitterness that makes it feel more authentic. The sweetness level was balanced well, so it never became overwhelming or too heavy by the end. If you prefer Japanese-style matcha flavors that actually taste like tea instead of pure sugar, you'll probably appreciate this place more than many trendy dessert spots. I tried one of their matcha soft serve items, and the texture was smooth and creamy without feeling overly rich. The matcha flavor stayed noticeable from the first bite all the way to the end instead of fading away after a few spoonfuls. Everything paired together nicely, and overall it felt like a lighter, more refreshing dessert. Especially after eating ramen or heavier food nearby in Japantown, it was actually a pretty nice way to finish the meal. The shop itself is fairly small, but clean and simple, with the typical Japantown dessert shop atmosphere. It feels more like a quick stop for dessert while walking around rather than a café where you sit for hours, but it fits the neighborhood well. The location is also super convenient if you're already shopping or exploring Japantown. Overall, I'd say it's a solid and reliable matcha dessert place. The matcha flavor is definitely there, and the quality feels consistent, but it wasn't something so incredible that I'd make a special trip just for it. Still, if you already like matcha or happen to be in Japantown, I think it's definitely worth stopping by and trying once.

1.1 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights

Soft Serve

Greentea swirl with boba

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**NEW** BOBA SUNDAE (available after 1.30pm)

Uji Time Dessert

4.0(1k reviews)

Matcha/sesame: Great combo of soft serve to end the night…read more Nuttiness of the sesame with the bitterness of matcha. Both are not sweet. Ordering is on the kiosk, comes out in less than 5 minutes. Well lit interior space with 2 staff members working. Utensils are self service. Seating is available across from the store.

I had been looking forward to coming back here for a while, but this recent visit was a total…read moredisappointment. The shop is always packed, but they have completely eliminated customer service by forcing everyone to order through a kiosk. Worse, the soft serve isn't as good as it used to be. The matcha flavor was incredibly weak, and the black sesame was way too grainy, weak and lacked any depth. The biggest issue was a major hygiene and professionalism fail. Despite using order numbers, the employee at the counter ignored them and handed my ice cream to two other customers. When they realized the mistake and said it wasn't theirs, the employee just took the ice cream back and handed it right to me--with zero apology. Passing along food that other people have already handled is completely unhygienic. Japantown has way too many amazing dessert spots to waste your time and money here. I won't be back.

1.1 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights

Black sesame + matcha taiyaki soft serve

Ube with sprinkles

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Taiyaki - $8.75 each.

Belly Good Cafe & Crepes

4.3(1.5k reviews)

•$

I LOVED my crepe!! It had the most adorable face made out of chocolate chips, marshmallows, and a…read morepretzel. I got the #2: green tea ice cream, red bean, whipped creme, and strawberries. I highly recommend. The service was fast and attentive to my indecisiveness and helped me choose. It's inside west side mall of Japan town, right across from mini stores. It's hard to miss since it's all decorated. I hope you try it!

It's the month of June and the sun is coming out in San Francisco. Feels like Summer is in the air…read moreand there is lots of options when it comes to getting something refreshing . What first comes to mind is ice cream and there is a place which serves ice cream not on a flakey cone like some in SF but on a crepe. This place offers crepes like the Hawaiian which comes with ham, cheese, and pineapple and the Peach, Pineapple, Coconut Flake & Honey .There is a place located in Japantown offering savory and sweet treats. This is located inside West Mall of the Japan Center and it's called Belly Good Cafe & Crepes. On a Spring stroll in San Francisco's Japantown I landed inside the West Mall at the Belly Good Cafe & Crepes. There a variety of different dessert options available. I got the Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, Strawberry crepe. The ice cream flavors wasn't too cheesy like some in SF. The crepe was soft and held the ice cream was tasty and the design was creative. The ice cream crepe character reminded me of a birdie / Pikachu. They also serve savory crepes like the Smoke Salmon & Cream Cheese With Pesto Crepe Roll. This is good place to enjoy some refreshing dessert and cool out from the sun in SF. When gets hot and you need an "escape" from the sun to go grab some something with ice cream on top of a "crepe "you can watch them get made and see them spread and then" scrape" and then turn them into "animal shape " Go to Japan Center and it's not located inside East Mall with the mural of spiting fire "Godzilla" is located in West Mall where they have crepes with and strawberries and "Nutella"you can take cover from the sun don't need an "umbrella"when it comes to variety of flavors of crepes they offer I would have to say "hella"

#4 with ice cream

DIY Crepe | @whaevaeats

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Pikachu Crepe @whaevaeats

Bi-Rite Creamery

4.5(10.3k reviews)

2.6 mi•Mission

I had balsamic strawberry and orange cardamom. Their Ice cream is high quality! It was not too…read moresweet and I loved it!! Service - was great! They let me try samples which was very nice and helpful:) Ambiance - small but very clean. They have some tables and chairs:) Highly recommend!!

Heard good things about Bi-Rite so had to check it out while we were in the Mission District! It is…read moreconveniently located right across Mission Dolores park. We went around 8:30pm on a Saturday and it was a little busy with some limited indoor seating available. They had interesting flavors and we sampled a bunch - ended up getting a flight of the following four: Honey Lavender, Orange Cardamom, Cookies and Cream, and Piña Colada (vegan). We all liked the Honey Lavender, Orange Cardamom, and Cookies and Cream! The flavors stood out and satisfied my sweet tooth. My personal favorite was the Cookies and Cream. The Piña Colada tasted a bit too strongly of alcohol, so personally I wasn't a fan, but that was my bad as I didn't sample it beforehand. Overall, tasty ice cream with a good variety of flavors. I would give Bi-Rite a 4.5, rounding up to 5 since I enjoyed the ice cream. Would come back when in the area!

3.8 mi•Bernal Heights, Mission

Creme Brûlée & Peach Cobbler

Coffee toffee

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Black sesame and coffee toffee

Mitchells Ice Cream

4.6(5k reviews)

Review 5000!!! I'm…read morean SF native Mitchell's ice cream is a generational business Families have been coming here for decades Safe to say my kids, kids will be coming here too Ice cream is different than other's because of the amount of butter fat they use In short, nothing beats Mitchells

A classic SF ice cream shop that families, dates, and friends would not hesitate to wait their turn…read morefor. At peak hours, there can be up to 25+ parties waiting, but their service is efficient, kind, and fast. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the SF area visiting or living and haven't tried! There are plenty of ice cream options, and there certainly will be one for you. 5/5 - Cookies and Cream/Macapuno - Not too sweet! Macapuno is a rare ice cream flavor in SF, and Mitchell's nails it! Oreo Cookie is the shop's rendition of cookies and cream, and it is one of my favorite places to get this flavor in SF. Both flavors were light and not too overpowering.

1.2 mi•Lower Pacific Heights, Japantown

Junior: strawberry sorbet, single: french custard vanilla (04/2026)

Oreo Cookie

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1 scoop of mango ice cream

Philmore Creamery

4.7(532 reviews)

Locally owned & operated

Family-owned & operated

Really nice ice cream shop! I stopped by after seeing it on Google Maps and being in the area. It…read morelooked pretty unassuming, but they let me try all the different flavors. Good: The sorbet flavors are amazing. I was super thirsty, so the pear sorbet and the mango sorbet were really good. I almost felt like I was drinking a smoothie while I was eating it. I also like the stracciatella ice cream flavor since they're super creamy and very refreshing. There's a lot of seating inside, and I found it nice to just hunker down for an hour and work on my laptop. Bad: It does get pretty busy, and it can take a while to get through the line because it's super cramped inside. Overall loved this place and would come again~!

Wish I could Phil more of this gelato in my mouth cuz it's so good…read more Was hoping to get some of the delicious raspberry flavor I saw online but they didn't have it. Got pistachio and coconut and the were incredibly creamy and delicious. They have plenty of great flavors and will let you try them. A little crammed inside but it's worth it.

1.2 mi•Lower Pacific Heights, Japantown

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Sophie's Crepes

4.0(1.9k reviews)

My favorite crepe place in the US- gives Japan a run for their money!…read more My favorite item to get is the mixed fruits and nutella crepe. Love the strawberry, banana, and kiwi combo, and they stuff the crepe full of fruit to the end. The crepe skin is also so thin and crisp, but still strong enough to hold everything together- what a masterpiece. You can order via QR code. Took around 5-10 minutes for our 4 crepes to be ready. Paid parking in the Japantown parking lot.

I come to Japantown very often and I always pass by Sophie's Crepes, so I finally checked it out…read morethis past weekend. It was later in the evening, and luckily they were still open. I got the #8, strawberries and Nutella. The strawberries were juicy and delicious, and they put a good handful of them in there! The crepe was soft and crispy, but I wish there was more nutella. Aside from the crepe itself, the service was fast, cleanly, and the store is spacious even though it's not very large. Lots of room for people to order and enjoy their dessert.

10. Banana and Nutella

D. Mandarin Orange with Ice Cream

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Ham, cheese, and veggie crepe

Salt & Straw

4.4(1.3k reviews)

1.0 mi•Pacific Heights

Delicious ice cream awaits you. Not only is Salt & Straw's ice cream yummy, they have unique…read moreflavors too. I tried a chocolate brownie flavored ice cream. Perfection. Go for the waffle cones--so good. Staff were helpful. The store was spotless.

I know Salt & Straw is known for having some interesting and unconventional flavors, so I tried a…read morelot of the flavors before settling; they rotate seasonally. I really appreciate that they allowed unlimited samples. Mom's mango pie: It mostly tastes like the pie part Parker House rolls with salted buttercream: It does taste kind of like cinnamon rolls, or something rich like biscuits Pumpkin pie tiramisu: The flavor mostly felt coffee-forward to me. Arbequina olive oil: It was pretty good, I liked how savory it is. Cinnamon snickerdoodle: Tastes like the cookie Salted, malted chocolate chip cookie dough: It is indeed salty and reminded me of a chocolate malt ball Jack o lantern pumpkin bread: Definitely quite pumpkin-y Turkey stuffing and cranberry: It might've actually have turkey in it I ultimately went for a single of parker house rolls and olive oil in a cup. Price was moderate compared to most ice cream I've seen nowadays.

Chocolate Pistachio Milk and Cookies

Single scoop chocolate zucchini bread

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Hoppy Apple Cider Sorbet and Apple Cider Donut

San Francisco's Hometown Creamery

4.3(1.1k reviews)

3.5 mi•Inner Sunset

I was in the area and saw that my favorite flavor was in rotation, mango sticky rice, so I had to…read morego inside for a scoop. There's usually a line but goes by quick. You're able to sample the flavors they have. I've tried a couple of flavors here and always get pints to go. The mango sticky rice is a must try when it's mango season. It's a busy area so finding parking is tough unless you go early or go down and find parking at GGP.

This is a must-have in SF, one of their best ice cream places!! There's often a line but it goes…read morefast. I love how many sizes they offer and their Madagascar vanilla is particularly heavenly. We enjoyed the dutch apple pie as well. Service was really nice and friendly, as well as efficient! Parking is tricky. There's metered street parking, paid parking lots, or you can also try street parking in Golden Gate Park for free and walk over. Or take public transport; the Muni stop is nearby.